You scrub up well

[ShiveringCoyote]

AIBU to think the phrase you scrub up well is a bit of a back handed compliment?

I don’t think I so, I think it’s just a way of saying ‘wow, you look really nice’.

I've always taken it as a lighthearted mildly amusing compliment.

Let's face it, no-one says it in all absolute seriousness.

It’s an affectionate term. YABU to think someone is trying to insult you with it, unless they already have form for it.

Maybe it's the person it came from made it sound back handed.

Return in the 'compliment' in kind next time.

I hate that. It's like saying you normally look like 💩

It can be, I wouldn’t say it’s universally a compliment without strings

The only time I have said this is to one of my colleagues. At work she doesn’t wear makeup and just keeps her hair back and wears slouchy stuff. We went on a night out together and OMG. She looked beautiful in every possible way, it was a complete transformation. I reckon if you didn’t know her personally you’d think it was two different people

It can be either nice or stingray imo.

All depends on who and how.

I think it is acknowledging that someone has made and unusual effort for an occasion and that their effort has been successful, so it's acknowledging the effort and the achievement which I like when I am on the receiving end of it. Some people aren't in a situation to put their appearance first in their everyday lives so for these people - like me - it's a compliment.. For someone whose day to day role involved looking great though it might not come across so well. Also I suppose someone who was used to being considered noticeably beautiful all the time might feel insulted.
Possibly one of those occasions where being plain-to-ugly is an advantage? I don't know what life looks like from the point of view of someone really physically attractive though. Some of the people I know in this category can be very touchy about lack of appreciation/ how upsetting any loss of looks are to them and some seem completely oblivious to the fact that they are heart-stoppingly lovely to look at, so I'm guessing there will be a massive range of viewpoints here.

I have had it said to me and always take it as a compliment - it's just a well used phrase to say - you look nice this evening - surely ?

Indeed I have said ( when going out in a group ) - we all scrub up well - so given person was saying it about herself as well - as above

I have had said - i.e. other person was saying it - not me

I don't think that at all. But then I tend not to overthink these things.

I think it acknowledges the effort someone made. Could be said better, but these sayings are like that....

YANBU. As PPs have stated, it is both an acknowledgement that you have put a big effort into what you look like and, at the same time, it acknowledges that you usually don't bother.
You wouldn't need to say it if someone usually looks good.

It's both saying "you look nice at the moment" and "you usually don't".

It's not nice, and it can be a bit sly.

It’s a compliment to suggest you are looking particularly nice at the time it’s said.

I like it. I say it about myself.

I say it when referring to my friends. We are all horsey, spend most of our time together in muddy breeches, horse slobbered tops, no makeup, scraped up hair. Then when we go out and do our hair and makeup etc we all say we scrub up well.

I think it's a compliment. As others have said it means you look really good.

I would never take it as you usually look rubbish. I think it's lighthearted and funny.

I take it as a compliment. I have got slack with the primping and preening in my middle age, even more so as a result of the pandemic so being told I scrub up well is someone noticing I've made an effort.

It's a compliment, particularly if the person saying it has just dropped their pint.

I scrub up well. I spend my life in running gear and comfortable clothing. Doing my hair normally means brushed and in a ponytail. No make up.

I actually quite like dressing up, I just have less than a handful of occasions per year when it's worth doing and most of the time I'm dressed for being practical.

During lockdown, a chap that I see at church rang up and I said that I'd worn an evening dress for a virtual murder mystery. His mind boggled at the thought of me in an evening dress as I normally turn up at church in warm/ running gear straight from Junior parkrun, not Sunday best. I wasn't offended, just amused
(My logic is that it's morally better turning up at church not in my Sunday best having already done something positive for the community )

I don't mind it, I've had it from colleagues on work nights out and I just think it's because seeing someone with their hair curled, a full face of makeup, a nice dress and heels is a big change from the same tied up hair, no makeup and few formal outfits on repeat. I think I'd find it a bit odd for if a friend said it though.

I think it's a bit like saying you're looking well.